Sanitation apparatus



April 14, 1931. 1, MONAGHAN 1,800,261

SANJTATION APPARATUS ATTORNEYS lN/ENTOR MM 14, 1931. 1 MQNAGHAN SANITATION APPARA'TUS Filed July 2. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 14, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JAMES MONAGHAN, F ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA SANITATION APPARATUS Application led July 2,

This invention relates to sanitation apparatus and has particular reference to apparatus for automatically sterilizing articles which are used successively bytditferent persons, so that each person may have the use of the articles in' an absolutely sanitary con dition. There are many such articles which are of a permanent nature, 'so that it is impracticable to remove and replace or destroy them after being used each time. Among such articles are toilet seats, wash basins and the several surgical, dental and barber shop instruments and the like which are used successively on or by different persons.

Apparatus of the general class described is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 273,225, filed April 27, 1928. This apparatus comprises a device in which two articles may be used alternatively, one of p which is in position for use, while the other is being sterilized or has been sterilized for use. The article which is not being used is sterilized in an hermetically sealed chamber through which is first passed a stream of hot air, steam, or other vapors at sterilizing temperatures, this stream being subsequently shut olf by a damper after a suflicient sterilizing period, and then a stream of a suitable cooling medium such as cold air is circulated through the chamber for returning the sterilized article to normal temperature. The apparatus is adapted to be prepared for operation by the opening of a door to a compartment, the dropping of a coin or the like, and a manual operation involving the raising of a. hood places a sterilized article in position for use, and initiates the sterilizing operation of the article which is not in use, this sterilizing operation being carried on automatically by suitable mechanism.

1t is the principal object of this invention to provide apparatus of the class described in which any of the articles mentioned are automaticallyl sterilized after each use, and which supplies the next successive user with t-he article in sterilized condition.

Another object of the invention is to pro-` vide apparatus of the class described which 1s simple m operation, quick-acting, and 1n which the sterilizmg operation 1s carried on 1929. Serial No. 375,354.

automatically after the apparatus has been prepared for use by the user.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the class described in which three articles are used alternatively, one of the articles being adapted for use, the second article, whichhas just been used, being sterilized in a separate chamber, and the third article, which has been sterilized in said chamber, being cooled in a second separate chamber.

These objects are obtained in a preferred embodiment of the invention which comprises a housing of generally cylindrical shape in which is rotatably mounted a car- 6 riage upon which are pivoted three like articles. One of these articles is in position for use during the time that the other two articles have been or are being treated in separate chambers jointly formed by the carriage and the housing. The carriage is rotatable manually after being released by the dropping of a coin, the unlatching of a door, or the like, and is arranged so that its rotation initiates the lowof a sterilizing medium through the chamber containing the article last used, and at the same time causes the .flow of a cooling medium through the second chamber containing the article which was last sterilized in the sterilizing chamber. The aforemen- 80 tioned sterilizing and cooling operations are carried on automatically by electrical means during an interval of time which is governed by a clock mechanism prepared bythe user when he rotated the carriage in order to ob tain a sterilized article for use.

For a better understanding ofthe invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the sanitation apparatus as adapted for the sterilization of toilet seats, this section being taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and illustrating a portion of the article treating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the apparatus;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are horizontal sections 8-8 respectively taken along the lines 5 5, 6 6, 7-7 and of Fig. 1; Y

, F ig.' 9 is a sc ematic diagram of the preferred electrical operating circuit when the apparatus is in full operating condition; and

Fig. 10 isa view corresponding to F ig. 8 and illustrating the condition of the automatic switch mechanism after one complete operation.

In thesedrawings, numeral 20 designates the main body or housing which is .preferably in the shape of approximately twothirds of a circular cylinder which is open at the front and closed at top and bottom by cover plates 21 and 22, respectively. This main body or housing 20 is mounted on a bracket 23 which is adapted to be secured in the u-sual bolt holes provided at the rear of a toilet hopper 24 so that the housing 20 extends upwardly along the wall. The particular embodiment illustrated in these drawings is adapted to be employed when existing toilet installations are to be converted into automatic sanitary installations, but for new work, a portion of the mechanism contained in housing 20 may be sealed in4 a wall or placed in a suitable recess in the Wall, or the like.

Journalled in bracket 23 is a vertical throughbolt 26 equipped with a sleeve 27, which is journalled in plate 25 forming part of the top cover 2l. To the upper end of the sleeve 27, which is held in place on the through bolt 26 by means of cap screw 28, is secured a crank handle 29, whereb the through bolt 26 and its sleeve 27 may e rotated manually. Fixed to the top cover assembly 21 is a tubular casing 30 which is stationary and extends through the main housing 20 to serve as a container for. the electrical and part of the other operating mechanism and also as a support for the stationary portions thereof. Keyed to the lower end of the through bolt sleeve 27 is a spider 31, best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which carries the three toilet seats 32, 33 and 34, the hinge 39 of each of these seats being pivoted to the spider 3l by means of respective pins 35, 36

and 37, each of which is surrounded by a coil spring 38, which is secured to the seat hinge 39 at one end and to the screw cap 4() at the other end and is so arranged that it constrains the seats 32, 33 and 34 in an upward position, from which they may be moved manually into the position of use on the hopper 29 by overcoming the tension of springs 38. As shown partlcularly in Fig. 1, the spider 31 is enclosed by ring 41, forming part of the flange of bottom cover plate 22.

Also keyed to the through shaft sleeve 27 above the spider 31 and journalled in ring 41, is a plate 42 of generally triangular shape upon which the vertical partitions 43, 44 and 45 are mounted. Partition 43 is secured at one edge to partition 44, and at the other orming the triangular structure seen in Fig.

2.4 The junctions of these partitions tit closely against the inner surface of circular housing 20, so that they may be freely moved therein, but at the same timeare hermetically sealed against the inner wall of housing 20. This forms two chambers within the housing. chamber 46 being the sterilizing chamber adapted to contain the seat last used, and chamber 47 being the cooling chamber into which the seat which has been treated in the sterilizing chamber is subsequently moved. The partitions 43, 44 and 45 are each secured at their top ends to a triangular plate 48 which also serves to seal the chambers 46 and 47 at this point. f

Secured to the under side of bottom plate 22 is electric motor 49 having a sha-ft projecting from each side. These shafts drive the respective blowers 51 and 52. Blower 51 is in a closed circuit and takes air or other medium from sterilizing chamber 46 through an opening 53 at the rear thereof, this opening being connected with the down-take tube 54 which communicates through elbow 55 with the intake of the blower 51. The exhaust 56 of the blower 51 is passed through the elec-v tric heater 57 in which the stream of air or other medium is heated to sterilizing temperatures before it enters the sterilizing chamber 46 through bottom opening 58. The electric heater is turned on and oli' by automatic mechanism during the time that fan 51 is operating by mechanism to be subsequently described.

The intake 59 of fan 52 circulates cool air drawn from the outside atmosphere through pipe 60 into passage 6l communicating with cooling chamber 47, from which the air, after cooling the seat 34 contained therein, exhausts through passage 62 into the atmosphere.

The carriage mounting the three seats 32, 33 and 34 is adapted to be placed in three positions, and tc be rotated in only a clockwise direction by means of crank handle 29. The three positions are 120 apart, and are determined by the three stops 63, 64 and 65 forming part of the collar 66 keyed to the through bolt sleeve 27 Within the stationary tubular casing 30, as shown particaularly in Figs. 1 and- 5. The ends of stops 63, 64 and 65 are adapted to successively engage and the rotation of the attached carriage to be stopped Aby the armature 67 of the solenoid 68. The armature 67 is normally held in the path of one of the stops 63, 64 or 65 by means of a spring 69 which is overcome when solenoid 68 is energized, so that the armature 67 is drawn out ofthe path of the stops 63, 64 and 65, whereby the carriage may be rotated when the crank handle 29 is turned. The solenoid is permanently fixed in place on stationary tubular casing 30 as shown in Fig. 1, which also carries a ratchet pin normally spring-constrained against the teeth of ratchet wheel 71, which is keyed to the through bolt sleeve 27 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, this ratchet being arranged so that the carriage may only be rotated in aclockwise direction by means of crank handle 29. l

A stationary electric current-supplying device for the electrical control mechanism is secured'within tubular casing 30 and preferably takes the form of an insulating disc 72 carrying the three brushes 73, 74 and 75, which serve as feeder brushes.` As shown in Fig. 9, brush 75 is connected by wire 93 to one side 95 of the supply line, which may be any convenient electric lighting source or the like. Brush 74 is connected by wire 94 to one side of the electric heater 57 and to one side of the electric motor 49. The third brush 73 is connected by wire 92 to the solenoid 68. Brushes 73 and 74 are in constant engagement with the respective circular contact rings 76 and 77, mounted on the upper surface of the switch disc 79 keyed to the through bolt sleeve 27 so as to rotate therewith relatively to the stationary disc 7 2, while brush 75 engages segments 78 in position 120 apart so that the sterilizing mechanism cannot operate while the carriage is moving, but only when it is stationary in any one of the three positions. In this way, the supply wires 92, 94 and 95 leading to the respective brushes 73, 74 and 75 are held stationary while constant current is supplied to the respective contact rings 76, 77 and 78. On the opposite surface of movable switch disc 79 and connected respectively to rings 76 and 77 and segments 78 are switch segments 80, 81 and 82, which are of the length and occupy the relative positions shown best in Fig. 8.

Mounted immediately below switch disc 79, for independent movement relative to through bolt sleeve 27 is a clock mechanism 83 of the conventional type` the main spring 84 of which is wound by the user each time the crank handle 29 is rotated through 120. This main spring 84 is secured at one end to carriage bottom plate 42 and at the other end to the clock mechanism 83. The clock mechanism 83 is rotated bodily by the spring 84 to slowly follow up the 120 rotary movement of switch disc 7 9. the time of rota.- tion of clock mechanism 83 being predetermined by pre-setting it for that time. Mounted upon clock mechanism 83 so as to move therewith, is a brush carrier 85 fitted with the brushes 86, 87 and 88 which are adapted to contact respectively with switch segments 80. 81 and 82 mounted upon switch disc 79. Of these brushes, 88 is the feeder brush and is connected severally to brushes 86 and 87. l

In operation, the user prepares the apparatus for use by closing the switch 89 either by dropping a coin, opening a door, compartment lock, or the like, any suitable mechanism of the coin-controlled or other type being adaptable for this purpose. The closing of switch 89 energizes solenoid 68 through a current traceable from supply wire 90, switch 89. wire 91, solenoid 68, wire 92, feeder brush 73, feeder ring 76 on switch disc 79, segment thereon, brush 86, connected feeder brush 88, feeder segments 82 and 78 on switch disc 79, feeder brush 75, wire 93 to the other supply wire 95. Solenoid 68 draws its armature 67 against the tension of spring 69, holding the armature momentarily out of the path of stop 63. as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, which unlocks the carriage. The user then grasps crank handle 29 and rotates the same in a clockwise direction, designated by an arrow or the like. not shown, inscribed on the top cover plate 21. The pawl mechanism 70-71 prevents rotation in a counterclockwise direction, so that even ifl the user pays no attention to direction. the apparatus cannot be operated incorrectly.

This manual movement of the carriage moves the switch mechanism from the starting position shown in Fig. 8 to the working position shown in Fig. 9, and not only removes seat 32 from position of use into sterilizing chamber 46 and replaces it with sterilized seat 34 for use, but also disconnects short segment 80 on movable switch disc 79 from its brush 86 on the clock mechanism 83. which remains stationary during the manual movement of switch disc 79 by crank handle 29 although its main spring 84 is wound up. Disconnection of brush 86 and segment 80 breaks the circuit of solenoid 68, traced above, so that the spring 69 forces armature 67 into the path of the next stop 65, whereby the carriage can only be rotated through the intendedV angle of 120 by the user.

This manual movement of the carriage also produces contact between brush 87 and segment. 81. whereby a circuit is closed through motor 49 and heater 57. This circuit is traceable from line wire 95, wire 93, feeder brush 75, feeder segments 78 and 82 on rotary switch disc 79. feeder brush 88, connected brush 87, segments 81 and 77, feeder brush 74, wire 94 and electric heater 57 and motor 49, which are connected in parallel to supply wire 90. The motor rotates blowers 51 and 52, the former blowing air through electric heater 57, which heats the air to sterilizing temperatures. This hot air circulates several times at increasing temperatures through sterilizing chamber 46 in a closed circuit from blower 51, pipe 56. heater 57. passage 58, sterilizing chamber 46, passage 53 and return pipes 54 and 55 to the intake of the blower 51. Because sterilizing chamber 46 is hermetically sealed, and because the heated air circuit is closed, th'e chamber/ stays hot for a long time after the mechanism including motor 49 and heater 57 *are automatically shut off in a manner to be described.

At the same time, cooling chamber 47, con.-

. taining the sterilized seat just removed from sterilizing chamber 46 by rotation of the carriage, is flushed with a blast of cool air drawn by blower 52 from the outside through intake 59. This cool Vair is circulated through the chamber 47 to cool the hot seat 34 down to normal temperature from blower 57, pipe 60, passage 61, chamber 47 and passage 62- to exhaust into the atmosphere. Thus the sterilizing and cooling operations take place at the same time and each operation is allowed full time without splitting the time to allow successive operations in the same chamber or wasting heat by re uiring the hot chamber 2a to be cooled downl rst before the seat con.-

tained therein may be cooled.

The time interval during which these con.- current sterilizing and cooling operations take place is governed by the clock mechaa5 nism 83, whose main spring 84 was wound up when the user turned the carriage through the 120 angle by means of crank handle 29. This clock mechanism 83 is released in the well known way when the manual operation :o of turning the carriage is completed and its spring 84 rotates the mechanism 83 bodily through 120o in a clockwise direction to slowly follow up the movement of switch disc 79, which is attached to and was previously moved by manual crank handle 29 by the user. During the follow-up movement of the clock mechanism 83, motor and heater controlling brush 87 remains in contact with elongated segment 81 of the then stationary switch disc 79, so that the blowers 51 and 52 and electric heater 57 are in action for an appreciable predetermined time. Just before the clock mechanism 83 completes its 120 rotation, brush 87 rides off segment 81,

thus breaking the circuit through motor 49 and heater 57, thereby stopping the sterilizing and cooling operations.'

At the completion of the 120 follow-up movement of clock mechanism 83 it will be seen that segment 80 and brush 86 are again in engagement, whereby the solenoid 68 is prepared for operation upon the closure of switch 89 by the next prospective user of the apparatus. This condition of the switch is shown in Fig. 8, i. e., the starting position,

,but the relative position of the whole switch has been displaced through an angle of 120, as will be understood from the foregoing description. Upon release of the stop 65 by solenoid 68 when the next user operates switch 89, the carriage may be turned manually in the manner described, until stop 64 engages armature 67 to stop the carriage at e5 the end of the 120 rotation thereof. The

other operations are automaticallycarried on in exactly the manner described.

It'will be seen that the three members which carry the switch elements, namely stationary disc 72, manually operated switch disc 79, and independently movable clockcontrolled mechanism 83, are so arranged that eHective switching action is obtained by a simple arrangement which eliminates the movement of wires through wide angles, which frequently results in breakage, snarling and short-circuiting, and makes inspection and repair diilcult. The clock mechanism is wound without requiring a separate act to do so, and the simplicity of the sterilizing and cooling mechanism produces simplicity and effectiveness of operation Without the danger of breakage or interference by tampering or the like, or the necessity of providing separate chemical sterilizing charges and materials at periodic intervals.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereby, but is capable of many variations in form, arrangement and application .within its scope. For example, instead of circulating hot air or other vapors as the sterilizing medium, a pump may be employed instead of the blower for circulating asterilizing liquid or washing fluid, such as hot soapy Water, containing a disinfectant, or the like. Also, although the apparatus disclosed is directed particularly to the sanitary treatment of toilet seats, these seats could be replaced with wash basins used in hospitals, barber shops, stations and trains, for example, or could be replaced by trays containing surgical, dental or other instruments which are necessarily sterilized at freplient intervals and after each use, and the I claim:

1. In a device for sterilizing an article,

the combination of a carriage'therefor, a

member cooperating therewith to form a chamber, mechanism for moving said chamber and carriage relatively to each other to open the chamber, and for introducing the article into tbe chamber, means for supplying a sterilizing medium to the article within the chamber, and a time-controlled device for controlling said means.

2. In a device for sterilizing an article, the combination of ak carriage therefor, a member cooperating therewith to form a chamber, mechanism for moving said chamber and carriage relatively to each other to open the chamber, and for introducing the article into the chamber, means rendered effective by said mechanism for supplying a sterilizing medium to the article within the chamber, and a time-controlled device for controlling said means.

v another treating medium 3. In a device for sterilizing a plurality of articles, the combination of a carriage therefor, a member cooperating therewith to form a plurality of chambers for containing said articles, means for treating all of said articles in said chambers, and mechanism for relatively moving said carriage and member to open said chamber and for transferring said articles successively into the several chambers.

4. In a device for sterilizinor a plurality of articles successively, the com ination of a carriage therefor, a member cooperating therewith to form a plurality of treating chambers, mechanism for relatively moving said carriage and member to open said chamber and for transferring the articles successively into said chambers, and means for treating said articles by a different medium in said chambers.

5. In a device for subjecting an article to a plurality of treating operations, the combination of a carriage therefor, a member cooperating therewith to form at least two chambers, mechanism for relatively moving said carriage and member to open said chamber and for introducing the article successively into said chambers, means for circulating a treatin medium through one of said chambers, an means for circulating another treating medium through the other of said chambers. f Y

6. In a device for subjecting an article to a. plurality of treating operations, the combination of a carriage therefor a member cooperating therewith to form at least two chambers, mechanism for relatively movin said carriage and member to open said c amber and for introducing the article successively into said chambers, means for circulating a treating medium through one of said chambers, means for circulating through the other of said chambers, and apparatus controlled by said mechanism for rendering said means effective.

7. In a device for subjecting an article to a plurality of treating operations, the combination of a carriage therefor, a member cooperating therewith to form atleast two chambers, mechanism for relatively moving said carriage and member to open said chamber and fory introducing the article successively into said" chambers, means for circulating a treating medium through one of said chambers, means for circulating another treating medium through the other of said chambers, and time-controlled mechanism controlling said means.

8. In a device for subjecting an article to a plurality of treating operations, the combination of a carriage therefor, a me ber cooperating therewith to format least two chambers, mechanism for relatively moving said carriage and member to open said chamber and for introducing the article successively into said chambers, means for circulating a treating medium through one of said chambers, means for circulating another treating medium through the other of said chambers, apparatus controlled by said mechanism for rendering said means effective, and time-controlled apparatus controlling said apparatus.

9. In a device for sterilizing a plurality of articles, the combination of a carriage therefor, a member cooperating therewith to form a plurality of chambers for containing the articles, manual mechanism for relatively moving said carriage and member for opening and closing at least two chambers and introducing into, removing from and transferring articles into successive chambers, means for introducing a sterilizing medium into one of said chambers, and means for introducing another medium into the other of said chambers, for treating the articles contained therein.

10. A device for sterilizing a plurality of articles, which comprises a relatively stationary member, a movable carriage cooperating with said member to form a plurality of chambers for containing said articles, and means for introducing a sterilizing medium to one article in one of said chambers, and means for introducing a different medium to the other article in the other chamber, said means operating concurrently.

11. A device for sterilizing a plurality of articles which comprises a relatively stationary member, a movable carriage cooperating with said member to form a plurality of chambers for containing the articles, apparatus rendered operative by the position of the carriage for permitting the use of an article, means for supplying a sterilizing medium to the article last used in one chamber, means for rotating the carriage to transfer said article to the second chamber, and means for supplying a different medium to the sterilized article.

12. A device for sterilizing a plurality of articles which comprises a relatively stationary member, a movable carriage cooperating with said member to form a plurality of chambers for containing the articles, apparatus rendered operative by the position of the carriage for permitting the use of an article, means for supplying a sterilizing medium to the article last used in one chamber,

means for rotating the carriage to transfer said article to the second cham er, means for supplying a different medium to the sterilized article, and mechanism rendered operative by movement of the carriage for controlling said means.

13 A device for sterilizing a plurality of articles which comprises a relatively stationary member, a movable carriage cooperating with said member to form a plurality of means for moving said carriage to transfer said articles successively from one chamber to another, electrical mechanism energized by movement of said carriage for supplying different treating medium to said several chambers containing the articles, and an automatic electrical switch for controlling the operation of said mechanism.

14. 4A device for sterilizing a plurality of articles which comprises a relatively stationary member, a movable carriage cooperating with said member to form a plurality of *chambers for containing the articles, means for releasing said carriage, manual means for moving said carriage to transfer said articles successively into successive chambers, a stop controlled by movement of said carriage for limiting the movement of the same, an electrical switch controlled by movement of said carriage, electrical means energized b said switch for circulating a heated sterilizing medium through the chamber containing'the' article last used, electrical means energized by said switch for circulating a cooling medium through the other chamber containing the article last sterilized, and means prepared by movement of said carriage for controlling the operation of said electrical means.

15. In a sanitation device, the combination of a housing, a carriage mounted for rotation therein, a plurality of articles mounted -upon said carriage, certain of said articles being located in chambers formed jointly by said housing and carriage and other of said articles being in position for use, means for releasing and limiting the movement of said carriage, an electric blower, a source of treating medium connected to each chamber and adapted to be circulated therethrough by said blower, an electric switch for said blower controlled by movement of said carriage, and time-controlled mechanism controlling said switch, whereby the duration of circulation of the treating mediums through said chamber is controlled automatically.

16. In a device for sterilizing an article, the combination of a carriage therefor, a. member cooperating therewith to form a chamber, mechanism for moving said chamber and carriage relatively to each other to open the chamber, and for introducing the article into the chamber, means for supplying a sterilizing medium to the article within the chamber, and an automatic electrical switch for controlling said means.

17. In a device for sterilizing an article, the combination of a carriage mounting the article, a member cooperating therewith to form a chamber for the article, mechanism for moving said carriage and member relatively to each other for forming the chamber and simultaneously introducingthe article by said mechanism for treating the article y introducd in the chamber so formed.

19. In a sanitation device, the combination of a housing, a carriage mounted for rotation therein, a plurality of articles mounted upon said carria e, certain of said articles being located in c iambers formed jointly by said housing and carriage and other of said articles being in position for use, mechanism for rotating said carriage to reform said chambers and place successive articles therein, and means for sterilizing an article located in at least one of said chambers.

20. In a sanitation device, the combination of a housing, a carriage mounted for rotation therein, a plurality of articles mounted upon said carrlagc, certain of said articles being located in chambers formed jointly by said housing and carriage and other of said articles being in position for use, mechanism for rotating said carriage to reform said chambers and place successive articles therein, and means rendered effective by said mechanism for treating an article located in at least one of said chambers.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

JAMES MONAGHAN. 

